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St. Cuthbert's tower
St. Cuthbert's tower

Chapter VII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.
If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!
But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.
The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.
“You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

St. Cuthbert's tower

Chapter VII

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.
Line 2
If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!
Line 3
But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.
Line 4
The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.
Line 5
“You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading ““You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.”

Philosophy noun US /fɪˈlɑː.sə.fi/

The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. (Triết học, đạo lý nhân sinh.)

From this reading “In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.”

Stand noun US /stand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.”

Step noun US /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.”

Terrible noun US /ˈterrible/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading ““You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!”

All words in this reading · 102

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

admission

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

applied

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

away

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!

characteristic

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.

charge

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!

comments

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.

contrary

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

denied

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!

Denison

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

deny

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

downcast

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

ears

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

feather

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

fell

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

formed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

fortitude

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

friend

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

friendship

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

gave

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

greatly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!

head

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

hurrying

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

indiscreet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

jarred

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.

justice

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

kind

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

knocked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!

Lucy's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

made

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

maid's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

matter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

Miss

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

much

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!

murderer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

newly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

Olivia

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!

philosophynounUS /fɪˈlɑː.sə.fi/

The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. (Triết học, đạo lý nhân sinh.)

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

proved

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

remark

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

rooms

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

rummaging

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

shock

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading If he had only denied the charge by so much as a look!

spite

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

stand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

tacit

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

to-day

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

unshaken

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The little maid’s characteristic comments on the matter jarred upon her greatly.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading But, on the contrary, his downcast head and hurrying step when Lucy’s indiscreet remark fell on his ears seemed like a tacit admission of the justice of it.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

woman

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

word

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In spite of all her philosophy, of all her fortitude, Olivia Denison could not deny, even to herself, that the one terrible word “murderer,” applied to the man who had proved himself such a kind friend, gave a shock such as no newly formed friendship could stand unshaken.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!

young

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You might have knocked me down with a feather, Miss Olivia, when they first told me it was him as made away with the young woman whose rooms we were rummaging in to-day!